Media-exposed interconnects for transducers

Abstract

Media-exposed interconnects for transducer modules are disclosed. The transducers may be sensing transducers, actuating transducers, IC-only transducers, or combinations thereof, or other suitable transducers. The transducers may be used in connection with implantable medical devices and may be exposed to various media, such as body fluids. The media-exposed interconnects for transducer modules may allow transducers to communicate electrically with other components, such as implantable medical devices.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A lead for electrically communicating with an implantable medical device comprising:
 a lead body supporting a conductor, the conductor adapted for electrical communication with the implantable medical device; 
 a transducer module including a transducer supported by the lead body and including an electrically conductive interface pad coupled to the transducer, the transducer being configured to provide an electrical signal to the interface pad and wherein the interface pad is configured to exert a tensile force on the transducer; 
 an exposed interconnect generally exposed to biological fluids when in an implant environment, the exposed interconnect including a first conductive layer deposited over the interface pad and being coupled to the conductor to provide a conductive interface between the transducer and the conductor, wherein the first conductive layer exerts a compressive force on the interface pad; and 
 a second conductive layer coupled to the first conductive layer, wherein the second conductive layer is configured to exert a tensile force on the first conductive layer, and wherein the magnitude of the compressive force counteracts the magnitude of the tensile forces exerted by the interface pad and the second conductive layer to reduce or eliminate a net force exerted on the transducer. 
 
     
     
       2. The lead of  claim 1 , wherein the exposed interconnect is configured to maintain long-term electrical communication between the transducer and the conductor when the transducer is subject to a DC bias. 
     
     
       3. The lead of  claim 1 , wherein the pad comprises a machined stud. 
     
     
       4. The lead of  claim 1 , wherein the transducer comprises an integrated circuit and the interconnect is configured to allow electrical communication between the integrated circuit and the conductor when in the implant environment. 
     
     
       5. The lead of  claim 1 , wherein the transducer comprises a MEMS device. 
     
     
       6. The lead of  claim 1 , wherein the first conductive layer selected from the group consisting of niobium, tantalum, vanadium, hafnium, zirconium, and alloys thereof. 
     
     
       7. A transducer module for an implantable medical device comprising:
 a capsule in electrical communication with the implantable medical device; 
 
       a conductor in electrical communication with the capsule;
 a transducer disposed at least partially within the capsule and including an electrically conductive interface pad, the transducer being configured to provide an electrical signal to the interface pad and exert a first force in a first direction relative to the interface pad; 
 an exposed interconnect generally exposed to biological fluids when in an implant environment, the exposed interconnect including a first conductive layer deposited over the interface pad and being coupled to the conductor to provide a conductive interface between the transducer and the conductor, wherein the first conductive layer exerts a second force in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and 
 a second conductive layer coupled to the first conductive layer, wherein the second conductive layer is configured to exert a third force in the first direction, the second force being configured to counteract the first and second forces to reduce or eliminate a net force exerted on the transducer by the interface pad. 
 
     
     
       8. The transducer module of  claim 7 , wherein the exposed interconnect includes a configuration that maintains long-term electrical communication between the transducer and the conductor when the transducer is subject to a DC bias. 
     
     
       9. The transducer module of  claim 7 , wherein the pad comprises a machined stud. 
     
     
       10. The transducer module of  claim 7 , wherein the transducer comprises an integrated circuit and the interconnect is configured to allow electrical communication between the integrated circuit and the conductor when in the implant environment. 
     
     
       11. The transducer module of  claim 7 , wherein the transducer comprises a MEMS device. 
     
     
       12. The transducer module of  claim 7 , wherein the exposed interconnect comprises means for reducing stress existing between the pad and the transducer. 
     
     
       13. The transducer module of  claim 7 , wherein the first conductive layer selected from the group consisting of niobium, tantalum, vanadium, hafnium, zirconium, and alloys thereof. 
     
     
       14. The transducer module of  claim 7 , wherein the second force exerted by the first conductive layer is a compressive force and the first and third forces are tensile forces. 
     
     
       15. The transducer module of  claim 7 , wherein the first conductive layer is configured to exert the second force having a magnitude that is closely matched or equal to a combined magnitude of the first and third forces. 
     
     
       16. A transducer module for an implantable medical device comprising:
 a capsule in electrical communication with the implantable medical device; 
 a conductor in electrical communication with the capsule; 
 a transducer disposed at least partially within the capsule and including an electrically conductive interface pad configured to exert a first force on the transducer, the transducer being configured to provide an electrical signal to the interface pad; 
 an exposed interconnect generally exposed to biological fluids when in an implant environment, the exposed interconnect including a first conductive layer deposited over the interface pad and being welded to the conductor to provide a conductive interface between the transducer and the conductor, wherein the first conductive layer exerts a second force on the interface pad; and 
 a second conductive layer coupled to the first conductive layer, wherein the second conductive layer is configured to exert a third force on the first conductive layer, the first conductive layer being configured to generate the second force having a magnitude that counteracts a magnitude of the first and third forces generated by the interface pad and the second conductive layer to reduce or eliminate a net force exerted on the transducer. 
 
     
     
       17. A lead for electrically communicating with an implantable medical device comprising:
 a lead body supporting a conductor, the conductor adapted for electrical communication with the implantable medical device; 
 a transducer module including a transducer supported by the lead body and including an electrically conductive interface pad coupled to the transducer, the transducer being configured to provide an electrical signal to the interface pad and wherein the interface pad is configured to exert a first force on the transducer; 
 an exposed interconnect generally exposed to biological fluids when in an implant environment, the exposed interconnect including a first conductive layer deposited over the interface pad and being coupled to the conductor to provide a conductive interface between the transducer and the conductor, wherein the first conductive layer exerts a second force on the interface pad; and 
 a second conductive layer coupled to the first conductive layer, wherein the second conductive layer is configured to exert a third force on the first conductive layer, the second force being opposite the first and third forces, and wherein the second force counteracts the first and third forces to reduce or eliminate a net force exerted on the transducer by the interface pad. 
 
     
     
       18. A transducer module for an implantable medical device comprising:
 a capsule in electrical communication with the implantable medical device; 
 a conductor in electrical communication with the capsule; 
 a transducer disposed at least partially within the capsule and including an electrically conductive interface pad, the transducer being configured to provide an electrical signal to the interface pad, wherein the interface pad is configured to exert a tensile force on the transducer; 
 an exposed interconnect generally exposed to biological fluids when in an implant environment, the exposed interconnect being deposited over the interface pad and including a first conductive layer coupled to the conductor, wherein the first conductive layer exerts a compressive force on the interface pad; and 
 a second conductive layer coupled to the first conductive layer, wherein the second conductive layer is configured to exert a tensile force on the first conductive layer, and wherein the magnitude of the compressive force counteracts the magnitude of the tensile forces exerted by the interface pad and the second conductive layer to reduce or eliminate a net force exerted on the transducer. 
 
     
     
       19. A lead for electrically communicating with an implantable medical device comprising:
 a lead body supporting a conductor, the conductor adapted for electrical communication with the implantable medical device; 
 a transducer module including a transducer supported by the lead body and including an electrically conductive interface pad, the transducer being configured to provide an electrical signal to the interface pad, wherein the coupling of the interface pad to the transducer results in the interface pad exerting a first force in a first direction; 
 an exposed interconnect generally exposed to biological fluids when in an implant environment, the exposed interconnect being deposited over the interface pad and including a first conductive layer coupled to the conductor, the first conductive layer being arranged to exert a second force oriented in an opposing direction to the first direction; and 
 a second conductive layer coupled to the first conductive layer, wherein the second conductive layer is configured to exert a third force directed in the first direction, wherein the first conductive layer is configured to exert the first force having a magnitude to counteract the magnitude of the second and third forces to reduce or eliminate a net force exerted on the transduce by the interface pad.